Latch for doors, window sashes and similar structures



Nov. 2, 1965 H. J. MODREY 3,214,948

LATCH FOR DOORS, WINDOW SASHES AND SIMILAR STRUCTURES Filed May 27, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

HEN/Q) J. MODE/E7 BY Ham,

A T TaRb E rs Nov. 2, 1965 H. J. MODREY 3,214,948

LATCH FOR DOORS, WINDOW SASHES AND SIMILAR STRUCTURES Filed May 27, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 7v

MW 8 M Ji 3 22 FIG. 8 6 WW 6 4 4 FIG. 9 8 1 i i: I Y m \C 22 \3 INVENTOR. 4 L 2 HENRY a, MOORE) A T TQRWE rs H. J. MODREY Nov. 2, 1965 LATCH FOR DOORS, WINDOW SASHES AND SIMILAR STRUCTURES .3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 27, 1963 FIG.

/FIG. 1| M0 FIG. i4

INVENTOR. HEN/87 J, MOD/Q57 A T TORNE v s United States Patent 3,214,948 LATCH FGR IDOQRS, WINDOW SASHES AND SIMILAR STRUCTURES Henry J. Modrey, Eagle Drive, Stamford, Conn. Filed Nlay 27, 1963. Ser. No. 283,452 15 Claims. (Cl. 7099) The present invention relates to latches for locking sliding or folding doors, window sashes, grills and related structural components.

It is a broad object of the invention to provide a novel and improved latch of the general kind above referred to which snaps locked when the bolt assembly of the latch is pressed against the striker plate of the latch and which can be unlocked by a rocking motion rather than a turning motion of a key member.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved latch of the general kind above referred to which is selectively operable by a key member that is releasably secured in the bolt assembly as part thereof, or by a key member that may be freely removed when not in use in the manner of a conventional latch Another more specific object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved latch of the general kind above referred to, the unlocking of which may be effected by remote control or by electrical or electromagnetic means.

Still another more specific object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved latch of the general kind above referred to which may be unlocked from either side of the door or other structural component in which the bolt assembly of the latch is mounted.

A further specific object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved latch of the general kind above referred to, the bolt assembly of which is adaptable to mounting either in a round or a rectangular mounting hole.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a novel and improved latch of the general kind above referred to, the bolt of which is withdrawn into a housing when the latch is unlocked. This affords the advantage that the bolt does not project when the door is open.

Other and further objects, features and advantages of the invention will be pointed out hereinafter and set forth in the accompanying claims constituting part of the application.

In the accompanying drawing several preferred embodiments of the invention are shown by Way of illustration and not by way of limitation.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a latch or lock according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a view of the bolt assembly of the latch mounted in a sliding door or other structural component.

FIG. 3 is a view of the bolt assembly and the striker plate of the latch, said two components of the latch being shown separate from each other.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view 'of the latch parts shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the latch showing the same components in locked condition.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing an intermediate stage of the unlocking operation.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the bolt assembly of the latch on an enlarged scale, the key of the latch being shown in neutral position.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 7, but showing the key while unlocking the latch from the reverse side of a door.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 8, but showing the key in the opposite direction while unlocking the latch from the front side of a door.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of sliding doors or panels which may be locked by means of the latch according to the invention.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view of a modification of the latch with non-projecting bolt according to the invention, the bolt assembly and the striker plate of the latch being shown apart.

FIG. 12 shows the latch of FIG. 11 in an intermediate stage -of the locking operation.

FIG. 13 shows the bolt assembly locked to the striker plate, and

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the latch according to FIGS. 11, 12 and 13 installed for locking two window sashes to each other.

Referring first to FIGS. 1 through 9 in detail, the latch or lock shown in these figures comprises a bolt assembly 1 and a striker plate 2.

The bolt assembly comprises a substantially rectangular housing 3, the forward part of which is enveloped by a cylindrical sleeve 4; a bolt 5 terminating at one end in a one-sided enlarged head 5', a latch slide 6, a pivot pin 7 and a spring 8. The headed end of bolt 5 and the latch slide 6 protrude from one end of housing 3. The other end of the housing is preferably closed by an end wall.

The latch assembly should be visualized as being mounted in a hole drilled into the narrow side of a sliding door or other structural element, so that the headed bolt end and the latch slide 6 protrude from the opening and also a small portion of housing 3 and sleeve 4, as is shown in FIGS. 3 through 6 for a reason which will be more fully explained hereinafter. An escutcheon 8 may be provided on both sides of the door for ornamental reasons. The escutcheon may be secured to the door by screws extending through bores 9 in the escutcheons. A third bore 10 serves to receive a bolt extending across the mounting hole in the door and an opening 11 in housing 3 to secure the latch assembly within its mounting hole.

The screw for retaining the housing within the mounting hole is shown as a hollow screw 12 which is internally threaded to receive a second screw 13. The holes 10 of the escutcheons are preferably placed somewhat asymmetrically in reference to the configuration of the escutcheons and hole 11 is also preferably placed somewhat off the lengthwise center axis of housing 3 to enforce assembly of the components of the bolt assemb y in the correct operational position.

The striker plate of the latch is shown as a rectangular plate, but may of course have any other suitable configuration, such as the barrel shape shown in FIG. 10. In metal sliding doors, a rectangular opening in the frame or jamb may replace the striker plate altogether. The plate is fitted in the side post or jamb of the sliding door by threading screws through screw holes 15. The striker plate is preferably formed with a recessed cupshaped portion 16 which has in its space a rectangular latch slot 17. The diameter of the cup is such that it can receive the forward end of sleeve 4 as can best be seen in FIG. 5. The peripheral outline of latch slot 17 is less than the combined peripheral outline of bolt head 5' and slide 6, but his the combined peripheral outline of the slide and the bolt just adjacent to the headed portion thereof.

As previously mentioned and as will be more fully explained hereinafter, the latch locks itself when the bolt assembly is pressed against the striker plate, but the latch can be unlocked only by means of a key. Three representative types of keys are shown in FIG. 1. Key 20 is releasably retained in the bolt assembly once it is inserted into the same; key 24 can be freely withdrawn from the bolt assembly in the manner of a conventional latch key; and key 28 is designed to effect unlocking of the latch by remote control.

Key 20 comprises a shank 21 in which is formed a rectangularly shaped notch 22. A knob 23 is secured to one end of the shank to facilitate manipulation of the key. The length of the key is preferably such that the end of the shank opposite to knob 23 protrudes from the side of the latch opposite to the side of insertion. A second knob 23 may be attached to the other end of the key which projects from the recess side of the door, if operation of the latch from both sides of the door is required. The key may be inserted into the bolt assembly from either side thereof.

Key 24 comprises a shank 25 in which is formed a notch 26 having at one side a slanted or cam surface 26a, the function of which will be more fully explained hereinafter. Key 24 has an eye 27 at one end to attach the key to a key hook when not in use. In this connection, it should be mentioned that key 24 may also be provided with a knob 23 and similarly key 20 may have an eye at its respective end.

Key 28 has a shank 29 in which is formed a rectangular notch 30. The key is secured at one end to a wire 31 to permit manipulation of the key from a remote point. This key is not inserted from the outside of the door but is attached during the installation of the latch. It is so short that the attached operating wire can be concealed inside the hole which is drilled for the reception of sleeve 4. Through this cavity, the wire can be guided to a remote point or to a solenoid which exercises a pulling stroke, and which, in turn, is wired for remote electrical operation.

The function of the keys will be more fully described hereinafter.

Components of the bolt assembly Bolt at its end opposite to head 5' is pivotally mounted in housing 3 by pivot pin 7 so that the bolt can pivot within the housing, but is secured against lengthwise displacement in reference to the housing. Pin 7 also serves to secure sleeve 4 to housing 3. The principal purpose of sleeve 4 is to permit mounting of rectangular housing 3 either in a round mounting hole or in a rectangular mounting hole, by the simple expedient of either attaching sleeve 4 to the housing or removing the sleeve from the housing, depending upon which type of mounting hole is preferred in a particular application.

Slide 6 is disposed floating within housing 3. It is urged by spring 8 toward bolt head 5', but movement in that direction is limited by engagement of a shoulder 6a of the slide with the respective end of bolt 5. The inner or wide portion of the slide is formed with a rectangular slot 6b, the peripheral outline of which is such that it will fit the cross-sectional peripheral outline of the hank of the key. Slot 6b is in transverse alignment with slots 3a in opposite side walls of housing 3 and also in transverse alignment with slots 8a in escutcheons 8. The length of the slots in the housing walls and in the escutcheons is somewhat in excess of the length of the slot through slide 6 for a purpose which will be more fully explained hereinafter.

Spring 8 abuts at one end against slide 6 and at the other end against end wall 317 of housing 3. As can be clearly seen in FIGS. 3 through 6, the spring is slightly slanted in reference to the longitudinal axis of housing 3 and it is retained in such slanted position by any suitable means, such as a nose 3c. As is evident, slide 6 may occupy a variety of positions in the housing in reference to bolt 5 and the housing itself. Some of the possible positions of the slide are shown in FIGS. 3 through 6. In FIGS. 3 and 4 a spring 8 has urged slide 6 into its foremost position in reference to bolt 5. It also imparts a counterclockwise directed tilting force to the slide as a result of which both the slide and the bolt are pressed against each other and are retained in such closely abutting position.

The operation of the latch as heretofore described, is as follows:

Locking of the latch to the striker plate As previously mentioned, locking of the latch is effected without use of the key. The key may or may not be inserted in the bolt assembly during the locking operation. The locking operation will first be described without the key being inserted in the bolt assembly.

To lock the bolt assembly in the striker plate, the bolt assembly is moved, through movement of the door, from the position of FIG. 3 or 4 towards the position of FIG. 5. As the tip of head 5 begins to penetrate into latch slot 17, the bolt and with it slide 6 are slightly turned away from the rim of housing 3, that is, in clockwise direction, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, spring 8 permitting such turning of the bolt and the slide. When now the tip of slide 6 reaches latch slot 17, the crosssectional area provided by latch slot 17 is not sufficient to accommodate the combined peripheral outline of head 5' and slide 6. As a result, slide 6 is pressed back in reference to bolt 5 against the action of spring 8, thereby making space available for a continued penetration of head 5'. When head 5' has passed completely through the latch slot, space alongside bolt 5 becomes available for slide 6 and the same is snapped forward by spring 8 into the position of FIG. 5. In that position, head 5' overhangs the latch slot so that the head cannot be withdrawn until and unless slide 6 is retracted in reference to bolt 5, thereby locking the bolt assembly to the striker plate.

While bolt 5 and slide 6 are shown as having rectangular cross section, other suitable complementary crosssections may also be provided, such as semi-circular cross sections. It is only essential that the bolt is formed with an overhanging head portion and that the aforedescribed correlation of the combined peripheral outlines of the bolt and the slide is maintained. The peripheral outline of the latch opening must, of course, match the outlines of the bolt and the slide as previously described. The type of engagement afforded by this operation is completely secure and vibration proof.

During the final stage of the locking operation, the protruding portion of sleeve 4 and housing 3 enters cup 16 thereby steadying the bolt assembly within the striker plate and also making inaccessible the slide to any at tempts to push it back from the outside with a knife or the like and thus to open the latch. However, cup 16 is only an optional arrangement. For example, the striker plate may be entirely flat, or may be merely a slot in a metal door frame. In such cases, the latcn assembly is so mounted that sleeve 4 does not project.

An analysis of the previously described motions of the bolt and the slide during the locking operation shows that the bolt assembly does and must perform a slight transverse zig-zag movement in reference to the latch slot in the striker plate. Such transverse motion is made possible in spite of the penetration of the forward end of sleeve 4 and housing 3 into cup 16 by dimensioning the end of housing 3 from which the bolt and the slide protrude so that the slide and the bolt can slightly pivot within the housing. In other words, the required transverse or Zig-zag movement in reference to the latch slot in the striker plate is effected within the housing itself.

The locking operation is the same when a key is inserted in the latch assembly since the key does not participate in the locking operation. The key 20 is inserted by pushing it through the escutcheon slots, the housing slots and the slot through slide 6 into a position such that its notch 22 is in alignment with the Wall portion of the slide defining slot 6!) therethrough. As a result, spring 8 will force the slide into engagement with notch 22. This position is best shown in FIG. 7. As it is evident, key 20 cannot be withdrawn from the bolt assembly unless and until slide 6 is pressed back so that it becomes disengaged from the notch. This is a very secure and convenient assembly method. The slide can be pushed back by simply pushing against the protruding end of the slide. However, such pushing back of the slide and with it a release of key 21' are possible only when the bolt assembly is not locked in the striker plate.

Key 24 may be inserted into the latch assembly as has been described for key 20. However, key 24 can be withdrawn from the bolt assembly without pushing back slide 6 from the outside of the bolt assembly due to the action of cam surface 26a which will push back the slide when an outward pull is applied to key 24.

Key 28 is inserted in the same manner as described for keys 20 and 24, the key having a rectangular notch 31) which can be released only by pushing back the slide from the outside of the bolt assembly.

As it appears from the previous description, spring 8 performs a triple function:

(1) The spring biases slide 6 toward head 5' to effect locking of the bolt in the striker plate.

(2) The spring exerts a force which holds the slide and the bolt in close abutment.

(3) The spring biases slide 6 into engagement with the notch in the key.

Unlocking of the latch by means of the key The unlocking operation may best be apprehended from FIGS. 6 through 9. To effect unlocking of the latch, the slide must be Withdrawn. To effect such withdrawal, the key may be rocked from the rest or inactive position of FIG. 7, either in counterclockwise direction, as shown in FIG. 8, or in clockwise direction as shown in FIG. 9, depending upon whether the key is operated from one or the other side of the bolt assembly.

Referring to FIG. 8, rocking of the key in counterclockwise direction causes pressure of the key against housing 3 at point a and also pressure of the key against the slide at point b. As a result, a fulcrum is formed for the key within the housing and the slide slots, thereby retracting the silde in reference to bolt head 5'. FIG. 6 shows the silde in the retracted position. As is evident from that figure, retraction of the slide releases the bolt from its locked position and the same can be withdrawn from the striker plate. \Vhen the key is released after completion of the unlocking operation, spring 8 will automatically return the slide and the key into position of FIG. 7.

The operation is the same when the key is rocked in the direction indicated in FIG. 9 except that the pressure points are now formed at c and d.

Withdrawal of the slide may also be eifected by twisting the key, provided slots 3:: and 8a through which the key is pushed, are wide enough to permit twisting or turning of the key therein. Finally, the slide may be with drawn by pull-back of key.

FIG. 10 shows latches of the type hereinbefore described installed in panels 70 and 71 slidably guided in tracks 32 and 33. As is evident from the previous description, the bolt assemblies are capable of coacting with the striker plates due to the aforedescribed limited play provided for the slide and the bolt in the opening of the housing from which the bolt head and the slide protrude even though the panels cannot be transversely displaced in reference to the striker plate.

Referring now to FIGS. 11, 12 and 13, these figures show a latch according to the invention which is similar in principle to the latch previously described but partly diiferent in structure. The principal distinguishing feature of the latch according to FIGS. 11 through 13 is that the bolt and the slide are entirely Withdrawn into the housing of the bolt assembly when the latch is unlocked. Accordingly, there are no protruding portions of the latch and this affords the advantage that such latch can be used to lock Window sashes, etc. that slide closely to each other.

FIG. 14 shows a lock according to FIGS. 11 through 13 installed to lock window sashes 34 and 35 to each other. It will be noted that in this installation, the latch is installed at right angles to the movement of the sliding sash or frame while in the preceding figures, it was installed in the direction of such movement.

Describing now FIGS. 11 through 13 in detail, the latch again comprises a bolt assembly 4% and a striker plate 41.

The bolt assembly comprises a housing 42 which may have the general shape shown in FIG. 14. The housing accommodates a bolt 45 terminating at one end in a onesidedly enlarged head 45. The bolt is slidably mounted in the housing by means of a slot 46 engaged by a pin 47. As is apparent from a comparison of FIGS. 11, 12 and 13, the bolt is displaceable in the housing in a generally lengthwise direction, but performs a zig-zag movement while being so displaced. The end of the bolt opposite to head 45 is formed with a lug or arm 50 which, together with an arm 51, secured to housing 42 forms an abutment for the two ends of a loaded coil spring 53. This coil spring urges the slide downwardly as seen in the figures, that is, into the position of FIG. 11.

The bolt assembly further comprises a slide 55 disposed alongside bolt 45 on the side thereof opposite to the overhang of head 45'. The slide has at its inner end a lateral arm 56 extending between arm 50 of the bolt and the bottom wall of the housing 42. The slide together with a cutout in the bolt forms a keyhole 57 for operating the latch as will be more fully explained hereinafter. The slide has a second lateral arm 58 extending from the slide on the side thereof opposite to arm 56. Arm 58 forms an abutment for one end of a second loaded coil spring 59 which abuts with its other end against the bottom wall of housing 42. Spring 59 urges both the slide and the bolt upwardly within the housing, the slide being coupled to the bolt by arm 56 underlying arm 50. However, such upwardly directed force of spring 59 is counteracted by the downwardly directed force of spring 53 and the latter spring is the stronger one as is indicated in FIGS. 11, 12 and 13. As a result, the bolt and the slide will be retained in the position shown in FIG. 11.

The striker plate 41 is formed with a latch slot 41a, the minimum peripheral outline of which is less than the combined peripheral outline of bolt head 45 and slide 55 but will accommodate the combined peripheral outline of the slide and the bolt just below the bolt head.

Locking and unlocking of the latch is effected by means of a withdrawable key 60. This key has near one end a notch 61 slanted at 611a to form a camming surface. The key may be inserted through a keyhole 62 of housing 42 into the aforedescribed keyhole 57.

Operation of the lock of FIGS. 11 through 13 To effect locking of the latch, the key is inserted into keyhole 57 and pushed upwardly as indicated by the arrows in FIGS. 12 and 13. The upward movement of the key moves bolt 45 upward-1y against the action of spring 53. The slide follows the upward movement of the bolt by the action of now released spring 5?.

As is apparent from FIG. 11, bolt head 45' in its fully retracted position is somewhat out of alignment with the latch slot in the striker plate which should be visualized as being spatially stationary in reference to the direction of movement of the bolt assembly towards the striker plate or vice versa. Accordingly, a rectilinear displacement of the bolt in the position of FIG. 11 would prevent penetration of latch slot 41a by bolt head 45. However, due to the curvature of slot 46, the bolt is guided during its upward movement into a position in which it is centered in reference to latch slot 41a, as is shown in FIG. 12. The bolt head can now penetrate the latch slot and after having done so, it is guided back by slot 46 into the straight position of FIG. 13, thereby making space available for the slide which is now snapped by spring 59 into the latch slot, thus preventing withdrawal of the bolt head from the striker plate. FIG. 13 shows the final locking position of the latch.

Unlocking f the latch according to FIGS. 11 through 13 To effect unlocking of the latch, slide 55 is pulled downwardly by means of the key against the action of spring 59. The bolt now released will follow the downward movement of slide 55 by the action of spring 53 until all the components of the bolt assembly are re turned into the position of FIG. 11.

As is apparent from the previous descriptions, both positions of FIGS. 11 and 13 are stable positions from which the components of the assembly can be removed only by means of a key whereas the position of FIG. 12 is an intermediate and unstable position.

While the invention has been describe-d in detail with respect to certain now preferred examples and embodiments of the invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art after understanding the invention, that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and it is intended, therefore, to cover all such changes and modifications in the appended claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A latching device for releasably locking window sashes, folding doors, grills and related structural components, said latching device comprising a bolt assembly and a striker plate, said bolt assembly including a housing open at one end, a bolt having a one-si-dedly enlarged head at one end, said bolt being mounted within the housing secured against lengthwise displacement in reference to the housing and protruding with its enlarged head from the open end of the housing, a latch slide disposed within the housing alongside the bolt on the side thereof opposite to the overhang of the head and lengthwise slidable in reference thereto, spring means within the housing urging said slide towards the headed end of the bolt, the walls of said housing and said slide having aligned transverse slots therethrough, and a key member extendable through said housing and slide slots, displacement of the key member within the slots in the slide and the housing causing retraction of the slide in reference to the bolt head against the action of said spring means; and said striker plate including a latch slot having a peripheral outline less than the combined peripheral outline of the bolt head and the latch slide but fitting the peripheral outline of the slide and the bolt below the head thereof.

2. A latching device for releasably locking window sashes, folding doors, grills and related structural components, said latching device comprising a bolt assembly and a striker plate, said bolt assembly including a housing open at one end, a bolt having a one-sidedly enlarged head at one end, said bolt being mounted within the housing secured against lengthwise displacement in reference to the housing and protruding with its enlarged head from the open end of the housing, a latch slide disposed within the housing alongside the bolt on the side thereof opposite to the overhang of the head and lengthwise slidable in reference thereto, spring means within the housing urging said slide towards the headed end of the bolt, said slide and said bolt being engageable with each other to limit displacement of the slide towards the head by said spring means, the walls of said housing and said slide having aligned transverse slots therethrough, a key member extendable through said housing and slide slots, displacement of the key member within the slots in the slide and the housing causing retraction of the slide in reference to the bolt head against the action of said spring means, and means releasably retaining the key member in said position extending through the slots; and said striker plate including a latch slot having a peripheral outline less than the combined peripheral outline of the bolt head and the latch slide but fitting the peripheral outline of the slide and the bolt below the head thereof.

3. A latching device for releasably locking window sashes, folding doors, grills and related structural components, said latching device comp-rising a bolt assembly and a striker plate, said bolt assembly including a housing open at one end, a bolt having a one-sidedly enlarged head at one end, said bolt being mounted within the housing secured against lengthwise displacement in reference to the housing and protruding with its enlarged head from the open end of the housing, a latch slide disposed within the housing alongside the bolt on the side thereof opposite to the overhang of the head and lengthwise slidable in reference thereto, the walls of said housing and said slide having aligned transverse slots therethrough, a key member extendable through said housing and slide slots, displacement of the key member within the slots in the slide and the housing causing retraction of the slide in reference to the bolt, said key member having in one of its sides a notch engageable with a wall portion of the slide defining the slot therethrough to retain the key member in its position extending through said slots, and spring means urging said slide towards the headed end of the bolt and into engagement with said key member not-ch thereby retaining the key member in its position extending through the housing and slide slots; and said striker plate including a latch slot having a peripheral outline less than the combined peripheral outline of the bolt head and the latch slide but fitting the peripheral outline of the slide and of the bolt below the head thereof.

4. A latching device according to claim 3 wherein the rims of the housing slots adjacent to the open end of the housing constitute abutments against which the key member is urged by the action of said spring means.

5. A latching device according to claim 3 wherein the length of the housing slots in the direction of the dis placement of the latch slide is greater than that of the slot through the slide to provide space for displacement of the key member in reference to the housing.

6. A latching device according to claim 3 wherein said key member comprises a shank portion having a crosssection fitting the peripheral outline of the slot in the slide, said notch being a rectangular notch in a side of the shank.

7. A latching device according to claim 3 wherein said key member comprises a shank portion having a crosssection fitting the peripheral outline of the slot in the slide, said notch being formed in a side of the shank and having an outwardly slanted side constituting a cam surface.

8. A latching device according to claim 3 wherein said key member comprises a shank portion having a crosssection fitting the peripheral outline of the slot in the slide, said notch being a rectangular notch in a side of the shank, and wherein a wire is secured to one end of said shank for manipulating the key member from a remote point.

9. A latching device for releasably locking window sashes, folding doors, grills and related structural components, said latching device comprising a bolt assembly and a striker plate, said bolt assembly including a housing open at one end, a bolt having a one-sidedly enlarged head at one end, said bolt being pivotally mounted with in the housing and protruding with its enlarged head from the open end of the housing, a latch slide disposed within the housing protruding therefrom alongside the bolt on the side thereof opposite to the overhang of the head and lengthwise slidable in reference thereto, spring means within the housing urging said slide towards the headed end of the bolt, the walls of said housing and said slide having aligned transverse slots therethrough, a key member extendable through said housing and slide slots, rocking of the key member within the slide and the housing slots and in pressure engagement with the slide causing retraction of the slide in reference to the bolt head against the action of the said spring means; and said striker plate including a latch slot having a peripheral outline less than the combined peripheral outline of the bolt head and the latch slide but fitting the peripheral outline of the slide and the bolt below the head thereof.

10. A latching device according to claim 9 wherein said housing is substantially rectangularly shaped, and wherein a cylindrical sleeve envelops at least the end portion of the housing from which said bolt head and said slide protrude.

11. A latching device according to claim 10 wherein a pin extends through the sleeves, the housing and the bolt, said pin constituting the pivot axis for the bolt.

12. A latching device for releasably locking Window sashes, folding doors, grills and related structural components, said latching device comprising a bolt assembly and a striker plate, said bolt assembly including a housing open at one end, a bolt having a one-sidedly enlarged head at one end, said bolt being pivotally mounted within the housing and protruding with its enlarged head from the open end of the housing, a latch slide disposed within the housing protruding therefrom on the side of the bolt opposite to the overhang of the head and lengthwise slidable in reference thereto, spring means within the housing urging said slide towards the headed end of the bolt in sliding engagement therewith, said slide and said bolt being engageable with each other to limit displacement of the slide towards the head by said spring means, the walls of said housing and said slide having aligned transverse slots therethrough, a key member extendable through said housing and slide slots, rocking of the key member within the slide and the housing slots and in pressure engagement with the slide causing retraction of the slide in reference to the bolt head against the action of said spring means, and means releasably retaining the key member in said position extending through the slots; and said striker plate including a latch slot having a peripheral outline less than the combined peripheral outline of the bolt head and the latch slide but fitting the peripheral outline of the slide and the bolt below the head thereof.

13. A latching device for releasably locking Window sash, folding doors, grills and related structural components, said latching device comprising a bolt assembly and a striker plate, said bolt assembly including a housing open at one end, a bolt having a one-sidedly en larged head at one end, said bolt being pivotally mount- 10 ed within the housing and protruding with its enlarged head from the open end of the housing, a latch slide floatingly disposed within the housing protruding therefrom on the side of the bolt opposite to the overhang of the head and lengthwise slidable in reference thereto, the walls of said housing and said slide having aligned transverse slots therethrough, a key member extendable through said housing and slide slots, rocking of the key member in reference to the housing With the slide and the housing slots and in pressure engagement with the slide causing retraction of the slide in reference to the bolt, said key member having in one of its sides a notch engageable with a wall portion of the slide, and spring means urging said slide alongside the bolt towards the headed end thereof and also into engagement with said key notch, thereby retaining the key member in its position extending through the housing and slide slots; and said striker plate including a latch slot having a peripheral outline less than the combined peripheral outline of the bolt head and the latch slide but fitting the peripheral outline of the side and of the bolt below the head thereof.

14. A latching device according to claim 13 wherein said spring means are disposed to exert upon said slide a turning force biasing the slide and the bolt jointly towards an edge portion of the housing at the open end thereof, said open housing end providing space for a limited pivotal movement of the slide and the bolt within the peripheral outline of said open end.

15. A latching device according to claim 14 wherein said slide has a shoulder portion engageable with said bolt to limit displacement of the slide toward the bolt head by the action of said spring means, and wherein said spring means comprise a coil spring abutting at one end against the housing and at the other end against the inner end of the slide at a point thereof set off in reference to the longitudinal axis of the slides.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 13,163 7/55 Field 99 200,366 2/78 Wadsworth 70-100 490,440 1/93 Jacobus 7099 2,044,622 6/36 Michauka 70-100 X 2,464,543 3/49 Modrey 287--20.5

JOSEPH D. SEERS, Primary Examiner.

ALBERT H. KAMPE, Examiner. 

1. A LATCHING DEVICE FOR RELEASABLY LOCKING WINDOW SASHES, FOLDING DOORS, GRILLS AND RELATED STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS, SAID LATCHING DEVICE COMPRISING A BOLT ASSEMBLY AND A STRIKER PLATE, SAID BOLT ASSEMBLY INCLUDING A HOUSING OPEN AT ONE END, A BOLT HAVING A ONE-SIDEDLY ENLARGED HEAD AT ONE END, SAID BOLT BEING MOUNTED WITHIN THE HOUSING SECURED AGAINST LENGTHWISE DISPLACEMENT IN REFERENCE TO THE HOUSING AND PROTRUDING WITH ITS ENLARGED HEAD FROM THE OPEN END OF THE HOUSING, A LATCH SLIDE DISPOSED WITHIN THE HOUSING ALONGSIDE THE BOLT ON THE SIDE THEREOF OPPOSITE TO THE OVERHANG OF THE HEAD AND LENGTHWISE SLIDABLE IN REFERENCE THERETO, SPRING MEANS WITHIN THE HOUSING URGING SAID SLIDE TOWARDS THE HEADED END OF THE BOLT, THE WALLS OF SAID HOUSING AND SAID SLIDE HAVING ALIGNED TRANSVERSE SLOTS THERETHROUGH, AND A KEY MEMBER EXTENDABLE THROUGH SAID HOUSING AND SLIDE SLOTS, DISPLACEMENT OF THE KEY MEMBER WITHIN THE SLOTS IN THE SLIDE AND 